Wes McCard
Sports Editor
The year was 1920, and Notre Dame’s George Gipp had just been selected as a consensus All-American. Two weeks later, Gipp was on his death bed, battling what is known today as strep throat. Just before his death, Gipp gave this famous quote to his head coach Knute Rockne.
“I’ve got to go, Rock. It’s all right. I’m not afraid. Sometime, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they’ve got and win just one for the Gipper. I don’t know where I’ll be then, Rock. But I’ll know about it, and I’ll be happy.”
Rockne delivered his speech eight years later, when the Irish were trailing an undefeated Army football team. After his halftime speech, the Irish came back to defeat Army by a 12-6 score, and the “Win one for the Gipper” speech became part of sports history.
After UL students learned of the passing of their beloved teacher Jim Argroves on Friday, the UL soccer team traveled to take on their arch rival just a few hours later. With many of the players being students in Mr. Argroves’ class, it was unknown how the team would play with such heavy hearts, but after just a few minutes of the game passed, it was clear that the Knights were focused on winning one for “Jimmy.”
With over 50 Upson-Lee students making the trip to see the game, the Knights defeated Pike County 3-0, many times gesturing over to their classmates in the stands, who held a sign saying “Win it for Jimmy.”
Upson-Lee’s Dylan Marshall scored the Knights’ first goal, followed by two goals from senior Joey Knight. After each goal, the players ran over to the UL student section, celebrating with them and pointing towards the heavens in recognition of their fallen teacher. Chills ran through the air for the entire game, but the 30 degree weather had little to do with the chills that could be felt throughout Pirate Field.
The win improves the Knights’ record to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in region play. The Knights will be in action at home against Locust Grove tonight, and if “Jimmy” is watching his students from above, then tonight’s game is one surely worth attending. The Region 4 contest is slated to start at 7:30 p.m.
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